Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

heart murmur 59
MEDICATIONS TO TREAT HEART FAILURE
Medication Type Representative Medications Effects
angiotensin II receptor inhibitors losartan, valsartan, telmisartan dilate arteries; lower BLOOD PRESSURE
angiotensin-converting enzyme captopril, enalapril, ramipril, benazepril, dilate arteries; lower blood pressure;
(ACE) inhibitors monopril slow progression of HEART FAILURE
anticoagulants warfarin, heparin, aspirin reduce blood’s tendency to clot
beta blockers carvedilol, metoprolol, propranolol, sotalol, regulate HEART RATE
timolol
calcium channel blockers amlodipine dilate arteries; lower blood pressure
diuretics hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, reduce fluid accumulations (edema)
bumetanide, metolazone
inotropics digoxin, digitoxin strengthen heart MUSCLE; decrease heart’s
workload
vasodilators nitroglycerin, isosorbide, hydralazine, relax and open blood vessels
minoxidil
conditions such as DIABETES and OBESITY (including
WEIGHT LOSS AND WEIGHT MANAGEMENT) that can lead
to cardiovascular disease.
See also CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE PREVENTION;
MEDICATIONS TO TREAT CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE; PHYSI-
CAL EXERCISE AND CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH; VENTRICU-
LAR ASSIST DEVICES (VADS).
heart murmur The sound of BLOOD flowing
through an abnormal opening in the HEART. Heart
murmur is a sign rather than a condition. Transient
heart murmurs are common and benign,
generally signaling an occasional or circumstantial
incomplete valve closure, and do not require further
evaluation or treatment. Transient heart murmurs
may be present during FEVER, especially in
children, and in pregnant women. Heart murmur
sometimes occurs with noncardiovascular conditions
such as ANEMIA and HYPERTHYROIDISM.
Murmurs are likely to herald cardiovascular
disorders when they appear with symptoms such
as shortness of breath (DYSPNEA) with exertion.
Persistent heart murmurs may indicate a heart
condition that requires treatment. The most common
cardiac causes of murmur are
• VALVULAR HEART DISEASE, in which a valve in the
heart fails to close properly and blood flows
back through it
• atrial septal defect or ventricular septal defect,
in which there is an opening in the septum, or
heart wall, between the two atria or the two
ventricles that allows blood to flow directly
between the affected chambers
• AORTIC STENOSIS or pulmonary ARTERY stenosis, in
which narrowing of the artery causes blood to
back up
Persistent heart murmurs may also be present
in GENETIC DISORDERS such as MARFAN SYNDROME or
CHROMOSOMAL DISORDERS such as DOWN SYNDROME
(trisomy 21). These conditions often have cardiovascular
components. The diagnostic path typically
includes ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG) and
ECHOCARDIOGRAM or COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT)
SCAN and may include more invasive diagnostic
procedures such as CARDIAC CATHETERIZATION. Treatment
targets the underlying cause of the murmur
and may include medications or an OPERATION to
repair the problem.